Thermoelectricity
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Thermoelectricity is the conversion from temperature differentials to electricity (Seebeck effect) or vice versa (Peltier effect).
It is accomplished in one of several ways:
- The Peltier-Seebeck effect
- Thermionic emission
- Indirectly through magnetohydrodynamics (see Rubidium).
The conducting material is not limited to solids with electrons as charge carriers. Such effects can be observed in conductors where the carriers are ions, or in semiconductors where the carriers are holes or electrons.
It is the principle behind heat engines, heat pumps, thermocouples, thermal diodes, and solid-state refrigerators (Thermoelectric cooling, Peltier devices)[1] , etc.
It can be used to electrically measure temperature, or to generate electric power from a heat source.
The heat from radioactive decay has been used to electrically power several space probes, in the form of radioisotope thermoelectric generators.
Thermoelectric power sometimes refers to this direct conversion, but usually just refers to a power plant which converts heat into electricity, through the use of steam turbines or similar devices.
[edit] See also
- Batteryless radio
- Thermoelectric effect
- Thermopower
- Joule's law
- Heat transfer
- Thermoelectric cooling/ Peltier device
- Pyroelectric effect - the creation of an electric field in a crystal after uniform heating
- Thermogenerator
- Thermionic emission
[edit] External links
- How kerosene refrigerator works
- Image:Kerosene_radio.jpg
- History of thermoelectric devices
- International Thermoelectric Society
- Thermoelectric News
- Tellurex thermoelectric module
- Amerigon
